CHAPTER II.

ANCIENT AND MODERN LIFE IN AFRICA.

"And he, who's doom'd o'er waves to roam,

Or wander on a foriegn strand,

Will sigh whene'er he thinks of home,

And better love his native land."

UPON his arrival at Jarra, where he was shortly afterward

transferred by the King to tyrants of a lower grade, his condition, far from being improved, was only rendered the more intolerable. The city itself, moreover, was in a state of the utmost confusion. Malcontents from Kaarta having taken refuge there, had recently made an incursion into their native country, carried off a large quantity of plunder, and thus drawn the vengeance of their King against the city. All those who had occasion to dread his resentment were now, therefore, preparing to flee into Bambarra; and Park, whose route lay in the same direction, became exceedingly desirous of effecting his escape from the colored Mohammedans, and that he might seize upon this fortunate occasion of fulfilling the object of his mission. Their departure, says he, speaking of the colored fugitives, "was very affecting: the women and children crying, the men sullen and dejected, and all of them looking back with regret on their native town, and on the walls and rocks beyond which their ambition had never tempted them to stray, and where they had laid all their plans of future happiness, all of which they were now forced to abandon, and to seek shelter among strangers.

Hoping to escape in this confused throng, he mounted his horse, and taking a bag of corn before him, rode slowly off along with the townspeople. On their arrival at a village at no great distance from the city, Park began to flatter himself that he had really eluded the vigilance of his persecutors, but before the agreeable idea had got a firm footing in his mind, he saw the King's chief slave, accompanied by four colored

Mohammedans, arrive, and take up their lodgings with the chief. The colored man, (mentioned in the preceding pages), Johnson, Park's interpreter, who had been captured by the King's men, before he could escape from Jarra, suspecting the design of this visit, sent two boys to overhear their conversation, by which means he learned that it was their intention to make a prisoner of Park, and carry him back to Bubaker. Upon learning this, he at once came to the desperate resolution to effect that very night his deliverance from his pursuers, or to perish in the attempt. Johnson, who applauded this determination, but wanted the courage to imitate it, was nevertheless exceedingly well disposed to aid in effecting his master's escape. He therefore undertook to keep watch upon the movements of the enemy, while Park was preparing for flight. About midnight he got all his clothing in readiness, which consisted of two shirts, two pair of trousers, two pocket handkerchiefs, an upper and under waistcoat, a hat, a pair of half boots, and a cloak. Besides these things he had not in his possession a single bead or any other article with which to purchase food for himself, or provender for his horse. About daybreak Johnson, who had been listening to the colored Mohammedans all night, came, says he, and whispered to me that they were all asleep. "The awful crisis was now arrived when I was again either to taste the blessings of freedom, or languish out my days in bondage.'

"A cold sweat moistened my forehead as I thought of the dreadful alternative, and reflected that one way or the other, my fate must be decided in the course of the ensuing day. But to deliberate was to loose the only chance of escaping. So taking up my bundle, I stepped gently over my colored pursuers, who were sleeping in the open air, and having mounted my horse, I bade Johnson farewell, desiring him to take particular care of my papers I had entrusted him with, and inform my friends on the Gambia that he had left me in good health on my way to Bambarra. I proceeded with great caution, surveying each bush, and frequently listening and looking behind me for the colored horsemen, until I was about a mile from the

town, when I was surprised to find myself in the neighborhood of a korree, belonging to colored Mohammedans. The shepherds followed me for about a mile, hooting and throwing stones after me ; and when I was out of their reach, and began to indulge the pleasing hope of escaping, I was again greatly alarmed to hear some one halloo behind me, and looking back, I saw three colored fanatics on horseback coming after me at full speed, whooping and brandishing their double-barreled guns. I knew it was in vain to think of escaping, and therefore turned back and met them, when two of them caught hold of my bridle, one on each side, and the third, presenting his gun, told me I must go back to the King."

It soon appeared, however, that these three horsemen were merely private robbers, who were fearful that their master, the King, had not sufficiently pillaged the stranger; for, after examining my bundle, and robbing me of my cloak, they bade me begone, and follow them no further. Too happy to be rid of the villains at any rate, Park immediately struck into the woods and continued his journey."

His joy at thus escaping from the colored Mohammedans was quickly damped by the consideration that he must soon be in want of both food and water, neither of which could he procure without approaching villages or wells, where he would almost inevitably encounter his old enemies. He therefore pushed on with all the vigor of which he was possessed, in the hope of reaching some town or village of the Kingdom of Bambarra. But he already began to experience the tortures of thirst; his mouth was parched and inflamed; a sudden dimness, accompanied by symptoms of fainting, would frequently come over his eyes; and as his horse also was exceedingly fatigued, he began to apprehend that he should perish of thirst.

Some shrubs, the leaves of which he chewed to relieve the burning pain in his mouth and throat, were all found to be too bitter and of no service. A little before sunset, having reached the top of a gentle eminence, says Park, "I climbed a high tree, from the topmost branches of which I cast a melancholy look

over the barren wilderness, but without discovering the most distant trace of a human dwelling. The same dismal uniformity of shrubs and sand everywhere presented itself, and the horizon was level and uninterrupted as that of the sea."

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'Descending from the tree, I found my horse devouring the stubble and brushwood with great avidity; and as I was now too faint to attempt walking, and my horse too much fatigued to carry me, I thought it but an act of humanity, and perhaps the last I should ever have it in my power to perform, to take off his bridle and let him shift for himself; in doing which, I was affected with sickness and giddiness; and falling upon the sand, felt as if the hour of death was fast approaching. Here then I reflected, after a short but ineffectual struggle, terminate all my hopes of being useful in my day and generation— here must the short span of my life come to an end. I cast, as I believed, a last look on the surrounding scene, and while I thought on the awful change that was about to take place, this world and its enjoyments seemed to vanish from my recollection. Nature, however, at length resumed its functions, and on recovering my senses, I found myself stretched upon the sand, with the bridle still in my hand, and the sun still sinking behind the trees. I now summoned all my resolution. and determined to make another effort to prolong my existence : and as the evening was somewhat cool, I resolved to travel as far as my limbs would carry me, to the only thing that would save me, a watering place.'

"With this view I put the bridle upon my horse, and driving him before me, went slowly along for about an hour, when I perceived some lightning from the northeast-a most delightful sight, for it promised rain. The darkness and lightning increased very rapidly, and in less than an hour, I heard the wind roaring behind the bushes. I had already opened my mouth to receive the refreshing drops which I expected; but I was instantly covered with a cloud of sand, driven with such force by the wind as to give a very disagreeable sensation to my face and arms, and I was obliged to mount my horse and stop under a bush to prevent being suffocated. The sand con

very

tin led to fly for nearly an hour in amazing quantities.al I again set forward and traveled with difficulty o'clock. About this time I was agreeably surprised vivid flashes of lightning, followed by a few he of rain. In a little time the sand ceased to fly, and I and spread out all my clean clothes to collect the rai at length I saw certainly would fall. For more than it rained plentifully, and I quenched my thirst by and sucking my clothes."

"There being no moon, it was remarkably dark; was obliged to lead my horse, and direct my way by pass, which the lightning enabled me to observe. manner I traveled with tolerable expedition till m when the lightning became more distant, and I was u necessity of groping along, to the no small danger of m and eyes. About two o'clock my horse started at son and, looking around, I was not a little surprised to see at a short distance among the trees, and supposing it town, I groped along the sand in hopes of finding cor cotton, or other appearances of cultivation, but found As I approached, I perceived a number of other lights ferent places, and began to suspect that I had fallen party of colored Mohammedans. However, in my situation, I was resolved to see who they were, if I cou with safety."

"I accordingly led my horse cautiously toward the and heard by the lowing of the cattle, and the cla tongues of the herdsmen, that it was a watering place, an likely belonged to the colored Mohammedans. Deligh the sound of the human voice was to me, I resolved one to strike into the woods, and rather run the risk of per with hunger than trust myself again in their hands; but still thirsty, and dreading the approach of the burnin I thought Student to search for the wells, which I ex

to find · appro

eat distance. In this pursuit I inadve ar one of the tents as to be perceive mediately screamed out. The people